Fabiana Moreira, an interview…
Photo by John-Paul Lue
Let’s face it, without photographs, most of our blog posts would often be ignored, especially on social media. And it is not uncommon for us to pass over good songs simply because the artists did not bother to include photos. Great music is one thing, but let’s take a beat and give photographers the proper credit that they deserve… Meet Fabiana Moreira, aka Fab, one of your new favorite photogs. We first became familiar with her work when we featured Cam Kahin and Christian Turner, so we decided to track down the Toronto-based shutterbug for an interview.
UpToHear: First of all, how did you get your start?
Fab: I was always curious about documenting things around me, and growing up I would always bug my parents for the disposable cameras that we brought on trips. At roughly age 10, I purchased my first camera - a Polaroid i-Zone, and mainly shot photos at home and of my friends when they visited. Not too long after, I bought a Polaroid 600 Classic as I wanted a larger format to work with, which I still have to this day and operates like a charm!
Around this same time, we got a computer at home with working internet that was not AOL, and I began downloading music at home and really discovering what I liked. This was the early 2000s, when MTV and Muchmusic (the Canadian equivalent) were at their peak, and after hearing artists on there who also sometimes would play live at the TV studios, I’d go and look up more of their songs online. Then I noticed how many of these artists were playing shows in town, and of course I became more curious about attending live shows to really experience what I was listening to. My mom often accompanied me until I was of age to start attending on my own, and luckily many of the bands I listened to happened to hold all-ages shows.
My parents purchased an HP point-and-shoot camera - my first digital - just as I entered high school, and it became my personal companion. Naturally I started bringing this along to shows with me to see if I could get a keepsake to remember the evening. Of course I ended up with some learning experiences out of this and many blurry photos later, but I always kept on trying to make my way through to be at the barricade hoping maybe I could just get something. Days after the shows too, I’d go check on the bands’ Myspace profiles and find the photographers’ profiles from there, of which many were also using Flickr at the time as a portfolio page. I was intrigued and admired the work immensely, and appreciated the craft of being able to capture those moments in such difficult lighting conditions. I started to study more about the foundations of photography and keep a catalog saved of shots that truly inspired me, and dissect how they were captured.
Ruby Waters, January 2023
I started to dabble a bit more in shooting events, such as capturing my family at special occasions, and experimenting with urban landscapes, which led me into taking some photography courses at college. I also volunteered for a little while at my high school in the photography program, assisting the students with setting up studio equipment and demonstrating how to light subjects.
I ended up landing a job at a photography store and film lab (shoutout to Downtown Camera!) after shooting on and off for fun for quite some time, and started to consider actually pursuing photography as a career. Being around so many like-minded people and more involved in the community, I steadily started building more connections and shooting more work that I was truly proud to share. I was also led back to my first love of working with analog, considering I was able to get my rolls developed right at the source. It was really inspiring to get to know some of my photography idols that I had followed for years too.
Still of course attending shows regularly, I was now packing a film point-and-shoot with me and still documenting these events, and began challenging myself to capture what I wanted more accurately, although with natural imperfections that I learned to accept with working on analog. I finally landed an opportunity to shoot from the photo pit for the very first time roughly 4 years ago via a friend in a touring band, and knew from this point that this was what I wanted to keep on doing. After an extended pause to these plans due to the pandemic, I began regularly shooting my friends’ bands more, and the rest is history from there.
UpToHear: According to your Instagram, you go to a ton of live performances. Did you always go to so many concerts? Or did photography impact the number of shows that you attend?
Fab: I have always gone to lots of concerts, however after starting to shoot at many of them consistently, it’s certainly upped that amount more - that’s roughly at least once per week, but on busy months that could be upwards of 5 in a single week!
UpToHear: Digital or film? Or both?
Fab: I love working with both film and digital. I find that with film, I am more in the moment, and have to trust my instincts more while I shoot, and having that anticipation of waiting for my film to be developed really makes me appreciate looking back at the shots afterward. There’s a certain magic to holding the physical negative in your hands and trusting in the process.
Digital is also wonderful to work with, and of course allows me to quickly review my shots and turn things around for faster deadlines. The technology is rapidly improving and it’s easier than ever to edit a large quantity of shots with still getting a consistent look.
I don’t get caught up with collecting gear and do my best to work with what I already have, knowing how to use it inside and out.
Alexisonfire, June 2023
UpToHear: What is the most intense live show you have ever photographed?
Fab: In terms of recent, I covered a hardcore band called Speed when they visited Toronto for the first time in April, which was quite intense as there was no barrier between the stage and pit. There were points where I was concerned for my gear getting out of there unscathed (and myself naturally haha), but I don’t think I had witnessed such a release of energy quite like that and it was totally worth the results I ended up with.
UpToHear: You shoot a ton of shows, but are you also available for studio work?
Fab: Although I cover quite a bit of shows, I’m always open for studio work! I don’t often get to work in that environment and would love to do more of that in the future. I can always be reached by email at [fabiana.moreira@gmail.com] for inquiries, and also via Instagram.
UpToHear: We know a few photogs who have feared for their safety during a shoot. Has that ever been the case for you?
Fab: Generally speaking, there is always a risk at a show that you can get injured in that environment, especially when there isn’t a designated area or photo pit to shoot from.
One thing that has been steadily improving is more women and persons from marginalized communities getting more opportunities to shoot, however there is still quite a ways of work to be done in this respect. I have personally been on the receiving end of sexist comments and remarks from male photographers I have worked alongside, and have felt uncomfortable as a result. I have heard countless stories of others who have experienced similar things and been in dangerous situations, which is quite unfortunate. It’s intimidating to consider joining the industry, and incidences like this continue to set this progress back. We need to consistently stick together and look out for each other, and call out this behaviour as soon as it arises to not tolerate it.
Also, the importance of crediting a photographer or fellow artist for their work goes a long way and is always appreciated! It’s very easy to do but often looked over, and that can help them land their next gig.
Speed, April 2023